Casting his line into the fishing business

Ben Turpin decided to pursue environmental studies at East Stroudsburg University, but his mind was really on fishing.

MARTA GOUGER

Ben Turpin decided to pursue environmental studies at East Stroudsburg University, but his mind was really on fishing.

"While I was in school I fished probably way more than anybody should have," said Turpin, who now owns a fishing guide business. "I made my class schedule around fishing and took night classes so I could fish during the day."

Now he fishes for himself about twice a month and spends the rest of the time helping others to land the big ones. Turpin, who works as a manager at Pocono Manor Rod and Gun Club, began fishing at age 5. Growing up in Yardley, he went to visit his uncle on his farm in New Jersey. By age 10, he knew how to shoot a .22 and fished almost every day in the summer.

He started with a hand-me-down pole and eventually was able to go to Woolworth's and get his own. "I fished with worms, corn, hot dogs, anything I could."

Turpin started watching fishing shows on ESPN and got turned on to lures. Again he made a trip to Woolworth's to find a lure he could afford.

Then he met a fly fisherman named Chris who was renting an apartment from his uncle. "Regardless of what he fished, he caught a ton of fish with the fly rod," Turpin said, knowing that if he had a fly rod he could do the same.

He taught himself, but then took a class with author and fisherman Joe Humphreys. He learned to tie flies. "Everything changed," he said, admitting that he now has about 20 fishing poles.

After college, he got married and worked at Dunkelberger's in Stroudsburg, but he really wanted to lead fishing trips. He started a custom rod building and guide service, but when his son was born he was having trouble working everything in.

He talked to his wife and decided to work at Pocono Manor a couple days a week, leaving him with time for fishing trips. His wife understood his passion. "The secret to being a good fishing guide is having a wife with a good job," he said. His wife, Jodie, enjoys fishing and doesn't mind when he hunts. "She puts up with a lot," he said.

Turpin doesn't get to fish for himself four days a week anymore, but he enjoys helping others.

"I love helping people hit that turning point — taking someone who has struggled for a couple a years and turning that light on," he said. "I like helping people to have fun."

As a guide, he has helped people fish their way across the state and back. He also leads trips in New Jersey. Through his endorsement with Orvis fishing equipment, he receives calls from all over the country. "They don't even ask the price. They know they're going for the day and they want to catch fish and see scenic areas. Some days they catch a lot, some days they get one or two. They have a good lunch and a few laughs."

Turpin doesn't provide a fancy lunch but he does set up a little table and chairs by the stream.

He doesn't guarantee they'll catch fish, but he says they came up empty only twice in 10 years. "If someone doesn't want to li

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.